turtle

1 of 3

noun (1)

tur·​tle ˈtər-tᵊl How to pronounce turtle (audio)
plural turtles also turtle
often attributive
: any of an order (Testudines synonym Chelonia) of terrestrial, freshwater, and marine reptiles that have a toothless horny beak and a shell of bony dermal plates usually covered with horny shields enclosing the trunk and into which the head, limbs, and tail usually may be withdrawn

turtle

2 of 3

noun (2)

turtle

3 of 3

noun (3)

archaic

Examples of turtle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
In Aesop’s fable, the turtle (traditionally called a tortoise, which is a type of turtle) is a winner, a perpetual underdog who defeats the arrogant hare. A.o. Scott, New York Times, 13 June 2025 Divers commonly spot sharks, whales, dolphins, and turtles off the coast of the island. Acacia Gabriel, Travel + Leisure, 13 June 2025 Researchers have now discovered another exception to the rule, as turtles are the only vertebrates that combine these two processes — genetic and mechanical — to create the scales on their heads. Stephanie Edwards, Discover Magazine, 11 June 2025 The Mosaic Exhibit Hall features rotating sea life exhibits, while the Wetlands Trail provides an immersive journey through Florida’s ecosystems, which include a mangrove forest, cypress swamp and freshwater swamp, home to alligators, otters, turtles and a free-flight aviary. Noreen Kompanik, Boston Herald, 8 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for turtle

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

modification of French tortue, from Late Latin (bestia) tartarucha, feminine of tartaruchus of Tartarus, from Greek tartarouchos, from Tartaros Tartarus; from Mithraic and early Christian association of the turtle with infernal forces

Noun (3)

Middle English turtil, turtle, going back to Old English turtle, turtla borrowed (with dissimilation, as also in Middle Dutch tortel "turtledove," Old High German turtul, turtila) from Latin turtur, of onomatopoeic origin

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1612, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1952, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of turtle was before the 12th century

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Cite this Entry

“Turtle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turtle. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

turtle

1 of 2 noun
tur·​tle ˈtərt-ᵊl How to pronounce turtle (audio)
archaic

turtle

2 of 2 noun
plural turtles also turtle
: any of an order of land, freshwater, and marine reptiles with a toothless horny beak and a bony shell which encloses the body and into which the head, legs, and tail usually may be withdrawn
Etymology

Noun

Old English turtla "turtledove," from Latin turtur (same meaning)

Noun

derived from French tortue "tortoise, turtle," from Latin tartaruchus "of Tartarus (part of Hades reserved for the wicked)," from Greek tartarouchos (same meaning)

Medical Definition

turtle

noun
tur·​tle ˈtərt-ᵊl How to pronounce turtle (audio)
plural turtles also turtle
often attributive
: any of an order (Testudines) of terrestrial, freshwater, and marine reptiles that have a toothless horny beak and a shell of bony dermal plates usually covered with horny shields enclosing the trunk and into which the head, limbs, and tail usually may be withdrawn

called also chelonian

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